Transcript PowerPoint Presentation - Mid

Implementing Renewable Energy Policy at
Local Authority Level.
Gerry Sheeran
Limerick County Council
Issues to be covered
 Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland
 Regional Strategy and Regional Planning Guidelines
 Renewable Energy and Development Plan Policies
 Balance between promoting Renewable Energy and
Environmental Protection
Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland
Overview of period 2007-2020
Addressing climate change by reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
Promoting growth of renewable energy sources
 Integrated process of sustainable development and use of bio-energy
resources
Accelerating energy research development and innovation programmes
in support of sustainable energy goals
The importance of security of energy supply and the advantages of
home-grown renewable energies over imported energies
42% of electricity generated from renewables by 2020
20% reduction in greenhouse gas by 2020 – EU target
Limerick Clare Energy Agency – quantifies the need to reduce energy
consumption and to produce energy from renewable resources
Mid-West Regional Strategy
and Regional Planning Guidelines
Region has a substantial renewable energy resource, wave, wind, hydro
and bio-fuels
Consistent approach needs to be taken with management of wind power
at regional level
Favourable consideration for renewable energy subject to environmental
and social impacts
Impact of development on the landscape
Grid connections
CDPs should identify suitable areas for different forms of renewable
energies
Guidelines need to be developed on inter-county and regional basis
Renewable Energy in Development Plans
in the Mid-West Region
All of the plans take a positive approach subject to some caveats
For example, Limerick County Development Plan states:
Renewable energy developments have specific Land Use issues..
It is the role of the Planning Authority to reconcile these
with proper planning and sustainable development”
The Planning Authority will adopt a positive approach to
renewable energy and the following to be taken into account:
Environmental and Social Impacts of the Developments
Landscape Impact of the Development
Connection to the National grid.
Mitigation measures where impacts are inevitable
Protected Areas: NHAs SPAs, SACs, Archaeological or scenic designations
Mullaghareirks upland heath and bog
SPA area for harriers and
upland peat habitats
Close up of heath land vegetation
Everyday features: these can partially
mask the developments.
o
Locating in Agricultural Lowlands.
Generally less problematical.
Slieve Felims: one refusal here on scenic
and ecological grounds.
Renewable energy which does not require
Planning Permission
At the lower and higher ends of the scale of renewable energy,
legislation being put in place removing renewable energy
developments from the requirement of planning permission at
Local Authority level.
 Planning Regulations,2007, have exempted renewable
energies at a domestic level. Regulations on solar power, wind turbines, CHP
bio-mass boilers and heat pumps, up to a certain size, are proposed
At the other end of the scale wind farms, hydro and large CHP will be dealt
with directly by An Bord Pleanala under the Strategic Infrastructure Act 2006.
Balance to be achieved between
promoting renewable energy and
protecting the environment.
Recent SPA designations have implications for wind energy
in Limerick ,Tipperary and Cork Local Authority areas.
Examining the capacity of certain areas to assimilate wind
farms and promote other renewable e.g. anaerobic digesters.
Other side of energy balance is to reduce energy
consumptions e.g. sustainable rural settlement patterns,
energy efficient design and efficient urban development - new
draft residential guidelines will issue next week
Sustainability and use of renewable resources is imbedded in
CDP polices and regional and national policies. Nonetheless
individual responsibility is an important factor – think globally,
act locally